Dr.  Anne Fessler:
Dr. Fessler is the founding owner of Farmington Veterinary Hospital. She attended Cornell University for both her undergraduate and veterinary medicine degrees, gaining her DVM title in 1984.  

She grew up in Farmington, NY and fulfilled a childhood dream to establish a veterinary practice in her hometown.  She is married and has four offspring ranging in ages from 33 to 25 years old and one grandbaby! Dr. Fessler is also currently guardian to 2 cats and 1 dog. Her professional interests lay firmly implanted in general medicine. She enjoys the variety that general practice generates as well as the contact it creates with fellow community members.  

The challenges presented by the broad range of medical and surgical cases that are treated at Farmington Veterinary Hospital combined with the pleasure of helping "neighbors" will keep her satisfied for a long time!

Dr. Phil Millspaugh

Dr. Millspaugh joined us at Farmington Veterinary Hospital in 2013 and 6 years later became a full partner in the business. He grew up in Niskayuna, NY outside Albany and then graduated from Binghamton University in 2006 with B.A.'s in both Biology and Music. In 2010, he completed the DVM program at Cornell University. After completing his education Dr. Millspaugh pursued a rotating small animal internship with Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists and was later an intern at New York Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center. His primary professional interest is surgery, and he enjoys all types of surgery including orthopedic surgery.

When he is not in the office taking care of patients, Dr. Millspaugh enjoys marathon canoe racing, alpine skiing, hiking, playing piano, and singing. He lives in our community of Farmington with his wife and a little girl with another baby on the way, and of course, a dog.  As President of the New York Marathon Canoe Racing Association he stays very busy! 

Dr. Sarah Nicolson:

Dr. Sarah ("Sally") Nicolson grew up in the D.C. area with lots of animals to care for including dogs, cats, rats, mice, turtles, gerbils, lizards, chickens, goats and horses.  Her eclectic career has included earning a Master's in Marine Biology, teaching aerobic exercise, and working as an accountant prior to attending Cornell University and receiving her DVM degree in 2000. She worked at another animal hospital for two years before taking time off to have her first child. She started work at Farmington Veterinary Hospital as a relief vet in 2003 and soon after came on staff permanently. She is married with a college-aged son and his younger twin sisters.

She also shares her home with pocket pets (rats!) and a lovable mutt dog.  Her father always told her to find something she loves to do and then find a way to make a living at it.  Veterinary medicine fits the bill perfectly—allowing her to raise her family and also spend time helping furry critters and the people who love them. 

 Dr. Julie Eck:

Dr. Eck grew up locally in Fairport, NY, doing her undergraduate college work at Nazareth College.  She then went straight to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University where she graduated with her DVM degree in 2018.  She has two cats and, unlike the photo where she is captured with a patient of ours, she has two large dogs, a Great Pyrenees and a adorable growing Labrador Retriever!

Dr. Eck enjoys preventative medicine (keeping your pets healthy) but you can also find her doing routine surgeries at our hospital as well as solving some complex medical cases.   We don't really know how we got along without her!

Dr. Anna Payne:

We were very happy to welcome Dr. Payne in 2021.  She grew up right here in Farmington and received both her Bachelor of Science undergraduate and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Cornell University.  After her graduation in 2017 she practiced in PennYan on many creatures great and small!!  She keeps her hand in large animal practice by having a few farm animals of her own.

    Dr. Katherine Baas:   

A warm welcome to Dr. Baas who joined us this summer of 2023! She earned her veterinary degree from Ontario Veterinary College and is happy to be in general practice with us.